LANSING – As part of a bipartisan coalition of 44 state and territory attorneys general, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a letter sent by the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) to Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) endorsing the Child Exploitation and Artificial Intelligence Expert Commission Act of 2024. The Act was sponsored by Rep. Langworthy and co-sponsored by a bipartisan 16-member coalition.
“Child exploitation is a heinous crime and as artificial intelligence advances, new issues arise that demand our immediate attention,” Nessel said. “Safeguarding our children requires robust legislation like the Child Exploitation and Artificial Intelligence Expert Commission Act of 2024. I wholeheartedly stand with my colleagues in asserting that this Act is a needed step toward building the resources and expertise needed to hold accountable those who use AI to exploit children.”
The Act would establish a commission to “investigate and make recommendations on solutions to improve the ability of a law enforcement agency to prevent, detect, and prosecute child exploitation crimes committed using artificial intelligence.”
The Child Exploitation and Artificial Intelligence Expert Commission Act of 2024 was sponsored following a September 2023 letter coordinated by NAAG that was signed by 54 state and territory attorneys general.
In Michigan, the Attorney General also supports The Protection from Intimate Deep Fakes Act, state legislation composed of House Bills 5569 and 5570. The Act establishes a civil cause of action and criminal penalties for the nonconsensual creation or dissemination of pornographic deep fakes. Both bills passed the Michigan House of Representatives earlier this week. Under the legislative package, individuals who intentionally create or disseminate nonconsensual intimate deep fakes will face severe consequences, including fines, imprisonment, and civil damages.
Besides Michigan, the South Carolina-led letter is co-sponsored in a bipartisan effort by Mississippi, North Carolina, and Oregon. They are also joined by Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Dakota Tennessee U.S Virgin Islands Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Wyoming.